Philosophers say a great deal about what is absolutely necessary for science, and it is always, so far as one can see, rather naive, and probably wrong. Richard Feynman More Quotes by Richard Feynman More Quotes From Richard Feynman There are 1011 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers. Richard Feynman Physics is to math what sex is to masturbation. Richard Feynman For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled. Richard Feynman I believe that a scientist looking at nonscientific problems is just as dumb as the next guy. Richard Feynman I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there. Richard Feynman Nature has a great simplicity and therefore a great beauty. Richard Feynman Physicists like to think that all you have to do is say, these are the conditions, now what happens next Richard Feynman Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it. Richard Feynman The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool. Richard Feynman The real question of government versus private enterprise is argued on too philosophical and abstract a basis. Theoretically, planning may be good. But nobody has ever figured out the cause of government stupidity and until they do (and find the cure) all ideal plans will fall into quicksand. Richard Feynman We are at the very beginning of time for the human race. It is not unreasonable that we grapple with problems. But there are tens of thousands of years in the future. Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions, and pass them on. Richard Feynman What I cannot create, I do not understand. Richard Feynman You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing -- that's what counts. I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something. Richard Feynman You put the mechanical surgeon inside the blood vessel and it goes into the heart and 'looks' around. Richard Feynman technology